AP: AFL-CIO to endorse Obama within weeks (millions of $$$$ and volunteers)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.southernledger.com/ap/142778/AFL-CIO_to_endorse_Obama_within_weeks


Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., steps out of his Secret Service vehicle as he arrives at Holy Trinity Church in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington. Wednesday, June 18, 2008, for the funeral mass of NBC's Tim Russert. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)


By J. Scott Applewhite (AP)
Published: 2008-06-18 19:50:02
Location: WASHINGTON

The AFL-CIO will endorse Sen. Barack Obama within weeks, union leaders said after a private meeting Wednesday with the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.

"Notice was given to the presidents of the internationals today that they should be anticipating a vote for endorsement in the next few weeks," said Paul Shearon, secretary-treasurer of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers.

Obama met with the AFL-CIO's leadership for more than an hour at their headquarters a block from the White House.

A strong AFL-CIO endorsement could help Obama with blue-collar workers and union members in industrial states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan. The AFL-CIO expects to spend about $200 million on the presidential and congressional elections, much of it on Democrats.

Rifts between AFL-CIO unions that had endorsed other candidates during the Democratic primary seemed to be forgotten after the meeting.

Harold A. Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, predicted "a solid and unanimous endorsement" for Obama. The firefighters union originally supported Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd before he ended his presidential bid in January.

FULL story at link.